With the holiday season just around the corner, now is the time to bring out your Christmas decorations. What better way to jazz up your home for Christmas than with some fantastic greenery?
In fact, these plants are often added to gardens for year-round structure and function. Thanks to their lush foliage and compact growth, these plants are top picks for garden borders and hedges.
Now, let’s see the best foliage to make your holiday decor pop!
1. Nordmann Fir
We are starting with the classic Christmas tree!
Nordmann fir is not a great choice if you have a smaller garden because it can grow up to 40 feet tall over time. However, it is a slow-growing tree, which makes it suitable for growing indoors.
This tree won’t shed needles all over the place and it will adorn your home with a prominent pine scent. Plus, it’s quite easy to control its growth when grown in a container.
Although a live Christmas tree will last you only a few years, it’s always better to have the real thing instead of buying plastic ones!
2. Rosemary
Now we are onto a significantly smaller plant called Rosemary. With its needle-like leaves and woody stems, this herbaceous plant looks like a tiny Christmas tree, which makes it the perfect plant for holiday decorations!
Rosemary’s aromatic leaves will also bring a touch of freshness into your home. This herb is often used to make wreaths by securing the stems with floristry wire.
Also use rosemary strands to make larger garlands or simply use it in a tabletop arrangement!
If you decide to grow rosemary, make sure to keep it in a sunny spot with well-draining soil. Don’t forget to prune your rosemary after the blooming period so that it doesn’t end up with bare, woody stems.
3. Ivy
You might have heard that ivy is an invasive plant, but you can still put it to good use!
Ivy, otherwise known as Hedera, is an interesting plant that produces trailing and twisty fronds, along with elegant flower heads and berries, which makes it ideal for festive decorations.
This plant is often used to add a graceful and cascading element to holiday wreaths, garlands, and arrangements, Its versatile nature allows it to complement various decor styles.
Although there’s a possibility that Ivy grows and spready everywheret, you can easily control its growth. Since it can grow basically anywhere, you don’t have to worry about providing it with the best growing conditions. It can grow in shade and poor soils. Pruning will help keep it contained.
Here’s a video on how to make an English Ivy wreath: https://youtu.be/YaKsT8q6Y3E?si=wr65J7RJ5r-89f1_
4. Lawson’s Cypress
Lawson’s cypress is an evergreen tree that produces feathery, fan-shaped foliage with a blue/green tinge. These leaves combine perfectly with red berries and other dark green foliage.
This tree can grow up to 40 feet tall and is not suitable for growing in pots. When grown in the ground, it requires well-draining soil and full sun exposure.
Although you can’t grow Lawson’s cypress indoors, there are other varieties suitable for indoor growing, like Lemon cypress bonsai.
5. Myrtle
If you want your decorations to not only look nice but also smell nice, then Myrtle is the ideal choice for you!
This is a fragrant evergreen shrub with glossy leaves and small, white flowers. Myrtle branches are commonly used in holiday wreaths and arrangements, bringing a fresh and aromatic touch to your festive decor.
You can easily grow Myrtle in pots as long as they are about 12 inches in diameter. This is because the shrub often grows over 6 feet tall. This aromatic shrub needs full sun and moist, well-draining soil. Add some potato-rich plant food during the growing season.
Myrtle leaves are edible, too. You can add them to winter stews to add more flavor and depth.
Related: 3 Pests That Attack Crepe Myrtles & How To Get Rid Of Them
6. Bay
Bay, otherwise known as Sweet Bay or Bay Laurel, is a popular evergreen shrub known for its glossy green leaves that are commonly used in cooking.
This plant can easily grow in containers. So, if you are looking for a plant to spruce up your indoor and outdoor decorations, then Bay is the perfect option for you. Add some twinkling lights to make it even more festive!
Grow Bay in full sun or partial shade. Make sure that the soil is well-draining and rich in organic compost. Feed them during spring and summer with an appropriate fertilizer. Repot every two years to avoid yellowing of the leaves.
This might be useful: How To Grow A Bay Tree & 5 Best Bay Leaf Uses
7. Holly
Holly is another popular plant used for Christmas decorations. This is a classic shrub that produces glossy leaves and scarlet red berries. You often see them in garlands, wreaths, and centerpieces, bringing a festive and traditional charm to the arrangements.
If you decide to grow Holly, make sure to have both female and male plants nearby – both are required for berry production.
Holly grows best in containers filled with fertile, well-draining soil. Keep them well-watered and in full sun to partial shade. Prune them to maintain shape and encourage new growth.
Related: Who’d Win This Christmas Fight: Mistletoe vs Holly?
8. Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of aromatic shrubs and trees known for their silvery leaves and pleasant fragrances. Eucalyptus gunnii, otherwise known as cider gum, is often used for decorations.
This species truly adds a modern and sophisticated touch to your holiday decor. They can be used in garlands, wreaths, and floral arrangements. The bark also adds texture, especially when it starts peeling to different colors.
The trickiest part is growing them as they can grow quite tall if they are not trimmed back hard in the spring. However, it can easily adapt to different soil conditions and doesn’t need as much watering.
Related: Meet 19 Spiritual Plants That Can Remove Negative Energy